NAMM: New Q/Strip preamp/DI from Tech 21

[Uncle Pauhana]

This looks interesting. The demo videos show it with acoustic guitar, electric bass, and keyboards. It's supposed to sound like the channel strip from a vintage mixing board. Four-band EQ, including two parametric mids! I haven't seen a price yet, but Tech 21 tends to be fairly reasonable.

http://tech21nyc.com/products/effects/qstrip.html

[brianv4]

$249. B&H has them posted on their website for pre-orders

[frankencat]

That looks like it might be cool.

[lkingston]

I just ordered one of these the other day. It should solve two problems with my Mackie Reach: one is getting the input levels right (with either the 10db boost on the 1/4" out or the 20db pad on the XLR). The other is providing a better EQ. I typically like to cut a little at 200Hz, boost below that, then high pass out the low junk. This is for fingerstyle with a prominent thumb bass.

[lkingston]

It should also help with my Henriksen Bud, which has seven bands of EQ, but nothing at that oh-so-important 200Hz frequency.

[min7b5]

That looks cool. And I remember back in my electric guitar days that they made really well thought out quality stuff. I'll be curious what you think.

[lkingston]

I have there SansAmp ParaDI which I use on my jazzbox. What this gives me is an active directbox that lets me dial in a perfect tube amp sound. It can go from clean enough for an acoustic to rocking out. On the jazzbox I set it for a mellow jazz tube amp sound. I also use it on my acoustic and it works brilliantly there as well. The main reason I am looking at the Q\Strip is so that I can keep it in my acoustic case and the ParaDI in the archtop case rather than sharing it between the guitars.

[lkingston]

I ordered it during the Musician's Friend 15% off July 4th sale, but they won't have any in stock until the 17th of July, so it will be awhile before I will be able to report back on how I like it.

[lkingston]

Well the Q\Strip finally came yesterday and yes it is very nice. It is exactly what is advertised: a console EQ built into an active directbox. Sounds great. Uses phantom power if it is available, and sips a tiny amount of power from a 9v battery if it isn't.